In general, crop condition was below average in most parts of Western Europe during this reporting period, with drought and high temperature conditions hitting spring and winter crops during grain filling and maize while flowering. Figure 2.5 presents an overview of CropWatch agroclimatic and agronomic indicators for this MPZ.

The total precipitation was 26% below average, with exceptional positive departures in RAIN over most of Spain, eastern Austria,western Hungary, most of Denmark, and also northern Italy from late May to early June. Meanwhile, overall TEMP showed an increase of 0.1°C while RADPAR for the MPZ was 2% above average. On a more detailed level, high temperatures occurred in most of Western Europe during this reporting period, withe xceptional below average temperatures in the middle of May and early June. Dueto the rainfall deficit and warm weather in most of Western Europe, overall BIOMSSfor the MPZ was 22% below the recent five-year average. As shown in figure 2.5,the highest values for BIOMSS (20% and above) occurred over western Spain,eastern Austria, western Hungary, and most of Denmark where water stress wasexperienced in limited areas. In contrast, BIOMSS in most other regions (includin gmost of France, western and northern Germany, southern United Kingdom, northernHungary, southern Czechia, and southern Slovakia) was 10% below average withsevere water stress and high temperature effects. The values for the minimum VHI confirm the water deficit in those regions over the last four months.

According to the VCIx map, crop condition was below averagein most of Spain, France (with the exception of the north), and the eastern part of Italy. Average VCIx for the MPZ was 0.74. The CALF indicator for the fraction of cropped arable land was 95% across the MPZ, which is the same as the five-year average; most uncropped arable land is scattered in the south and northeast of Spain.

Generally, crop condition in Western Europe was unfavorable.The rainfall deficit and warmer-than-seasona lweather limited soil water storage and crop growth and reduced the yield potential of summer crops that are reaching the sensitive stages of flowering or the beginning of the grain-filling period.

Figure 2.5. Western Europe MPZ: Agroclimaticand agronomic indicators, April-July 2015